March – April 2008

President's Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherry Caravano (973) 426-9092

WOW! What a wonderful turnout at our 8th annual Tricky Tray on March 29th, 2008! I would like to thank all the volunteers, donors, teachers, staff, and attendees who made our Tricky Tray such a great night. I could not have done it without ALL of you. Our Tricky Tray was a success due the hard teamwork and commitment of many people along with the generosity, kindness and support of businesses, organizations, families, teachers and staff of Stanhope School.

I would like to extend my most heartfelt thanks to the following team of dedicated volunteers who contributed to make the tricky tray a success: Robbin Kenny, Lauri Trowbridge, Karen Connelly, Heather Constanza, Dawn Heinen, Rebecca Davies, Dawn Goula, Annie Ryan, Stephanie McDonnell, Carmela Berger, Michelle McNeilly, Linda Stiner, Kelly Swiencki, Joelle DeMasi, Rose Tucker, Colleen Chaparro, Becky Yanagi, Cathy Lamicella, Ellen Horak,

Nancy Stevens, Scott Stevens, Kathi Scharnikow, Drew Constanza, Heidi Hathaway, Wayne Hathaway, Cindy Klein, Tracy Staples, Lori Madonna, Christopher Swiencki, Kathy Smith, Linda Oeftering, Daniel Davies, Mike Ryan, Erik Anderson, Doug Ferguson, Mrs. Blair, Mrs. Lusto, Mrs. Connallon, Mrs. Latino, Mrs. Moscatello, Mrs. Hoffman, Mrs. Ferrer, Megan Kenny, Brian Rafferty and our fabulous 50/50 volunteers, Michael Stiner, Keith Trowbridge, Mike Vance, Brian McNeilly, and John Martin. I would also like to thank the following team of junior dedicated volunteers who helped to make the tricky tray a success: Lauren Kenny, Jennifer Trowbridge, Kara Trowbridge, Christy Taylor, Allie Hunts, Kellie Stevens, Scott Stevens, Jack Ryan, Ashley Ryan, and Francesca Caravano.

These volunteers worked hard by offering their time and effort to help in some way. They all helped by giving their time to solicit donations, pick up donations, advertise for the tricky tray, organize and wrap the trays, put up/take down signs, move the trays to storage, then move the trays to the school on the day of the tricky tray, set up and label the trays, shop and prepare for the dinner buffet and snack bar and then help the night of the tricky tray.

I would like to give a special thanks to our homeroom parents and their respective classroom families who donated beautiful themed baskets! Thanks for your time and effort! It is greatly appreciated!

I would like to give a special thanks to everyone who donated water, soda and/or a baked good! We truly appreciate it!

Thank you to the Stevens Family for once again opening their home and allowing us to store all our wrapped trays there.

Special thanks to Mrs. Perro for doing a great job calling the numbers.

Special thanks to Jim and Winnie for all their help setting up and cleaning up. We truly appreciate their support.

Special thanks to the office staff for their help throughout the last few months.

Special thanks to all the husbands and families for all their support

A special thanks to all of you. It is because of your generosity, the Stanhope HSA is able to continue to provide the children with school enhancements including educational, cultural and family fun events.

Thanks to Cathy Lamicella for chairing the Spring Book Fair. We were able to donate $750 worth of new books to our library. As always, Mrs. Hoffman was very helpful during the book fair.

Thanks to Carmela Berger and her committee for all of their hard work with the Gertrude Hawk Candy Sale.

Thanks to Joelle DeMasi for organizing the After School Bingo for grades K-3 and Robbin Kenny for organizing the After School Bingo for grades 4-8.

Thanks to Robbin Kenny for organizing the 4th annual Kids Tricky Tray. She spends a lot of time planning and shopping for this event throughout the year. Thanks to everyone who helped. The Kid’s Tricky Tray is one of our ways to give something back to our Stanhope students and let them have a fun night out.

Congratulations to this year’s Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Fehir!!

We will be having a Used Clothing Drive on May 1st, 2008. Please take the time to donate used clothes, shoes, bedding, linens, and stuffed animals to help support the Honor Roll Breakfast. Please do not send in toys or household items. Times and drop off location information will be sent home after school break.

After having to reschedule the Harlem Wizards again due to the snowstorm in February, there were no evening dates available. So we are having the Harlem Wizards come and perform their half court show as part of the Field Day festivities for the students as we needed to complete this contract by the end of this school year.

Have a safe and fun spring break!!!

COMMITTEE NEWS . . . . .

A special BIG THANK YOU goes out to Sherry Caravano for everything thing she did to make this year’s Tricky Tray a HUGE SUCCESS. She spent many, many months planning, organizing, soliciting, selling pre-sale tickets, and opening up her house to allow us to wrap many, many trays. Her efforts will not be forgotten.

THANK YOU SHERRY!! WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!!

Ways & Means . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmela Berger

We recently completed the Gertrude Hawk candy fundraiser. It was a great success! A special thank you to the Ways & Means committee who spent hours reconciling the order forms. I could not have done it without you. Thanks to everyone who participated in this fundraiser. Your generosity will greatly benefit our many ongoing projects for our school. We really appreciate your continued support.

Please save the date for this year’s Mother’s Day flower sale, which will be held on Friday, May 9th. Details about the flower sale will be sent out in May. We will need help for this event so please consider volunteering.

Book Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathy Lamicella

Many thanks go out to the following volunteers who helped set up/break down and work during the book fair: Carmela Berger, Karen Connelly, Joelle DeMasi, Molly Ferguson, Cindy Graeber, Dawn Heinen, Robbin Kenny, Yolanda Marns, Stephanie McDonnell, Michelle McNeilly, Lauren Mortell, Christine Raymond, Linda Stiner, Kelly Swiencki, Gina Thomas, Vicki Tramaglini, Lauri Trowbridge, Rose Tucker, Patti Vance, and Lori Wihlborg. I would also like to thank our junior volunteers who helped setup/break down the book fair: Lauren Kenny, Joanna Stiner, Austin Lamicella, Victoria Connelly, Rebecca Hand, Francesca Caravano, and Evan Lamicella.

After School Bingo (Grades K-3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joelle DeMasi

Thanks to the following parents who donated their time: Dawn Heinen, Sassy Kondolpi, Eileen Kuzkuda, MaryAnn Sweizer, Holly Szoke, Vicki Tramaglini, Rose Tucker, Heidi Waldron, and Diana Truglio for calling.

After School Bingo (Grades 4-8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robbin Kenny

Thank you Sherry Caravano, Karen Connelly, and Diana Truglio for helping with this year’s After School Bingo.

Market Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robbin Kenny

Thank you to all the families and faculty who continue to support Market Day each month. I would especially like to thank the volunteers who make the reminder calls and help me on the day of the sale. This month’s order forms are due back to the school by this Friday, April 18th due to our Spring Break next week. Internet orders can still be entered by noon Friday, April 25th. Pick-up is Thursday, May 1st between 4-5pm.

Kid’s Tricky Tray . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robbin Kenny

Thank you to all the families who came out for the Kid’s Tricky Tray. I hope everyone had a nice time. I would like to thank Sherry Caravano and Patti Vance for helping me set up; and Francesca Caravano and Lauren Kenny for filling all the snack bags. I would also like to thank Karen Connelly, Dawn Heinen, and Patti Vance for shaking the bags and distributing the toys. After every one left for the evening, Carmela Berger and her son Ritch; Sherry Caravano; Karen Connelly and her daughter Victoria; Patti Vance and her son David; and Lauren Kenny helped clean up the garbage and take down the chairs. Thank you so much for staying and helping! A special thank you goes out to Jim, Winnie, and Keith for helping us set up and clean up; and to our principal, Mrs. Perro who did a great job calling.